Police: Crude bomb kills 1 in Bangladesh

DHAKA, Bangladesh 
A series of crude bombs went off in the Bangladeshi capital Sunday during clashes with police and opposition activists, killing at least one person and injuring another two, police and news reports said.

The death was reported in Dhaka's central Motijheel commercial district, local police official Bazlul Rashid said. He said the victim seemed to have carrying the homemade bomb - explosives filled in tin pot.

Private television station ATN News reported that at least 15 homemade bombs exploded in parts of the city during the violence.

Sunday's opposition rally was called to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan. Until the independence in 1971 Bangladesh was the eastern wing of Pakistan.

Bangladesh has a history of political violence. In recent months opposition parties held general strikes and protests across the country accusing the government of corruption and harassment of political rivals. The government denies the charges.